2025 has been a year of continued growth and impact, all made possible by our generous partners! Walking through God-given doors of opportunity is not always easy, but the end results are always amazing.
“Saying ‘yes’ to God leads to interesting places, but ultimately, they are places of joy and wonder.” —Kathleen Cooke, Co-Founder, The Influence Lab/Global Director, Influence Women
Here’s a very brief Impact Recap of 2025—but first, let’s look ahead to 2026!
“Remember the wonders he has done…” Psalm 105:5
“Wonder” is our word for the new year. We invite you to pray with us and look forward to God’s “wonder” in 2026 for The Influence Lab and Influence Women.
The digital age has placed an increased demand on ministries to elevate their media and digital strategies to share the gospel. The Influence Lab has stepped up to meet that need, going to places where strategic training is not readily available or accessible.
We’re looking ahead to the opportunities in 2026 to teach, train and encourage, but saying “yes” to these requests requires ramping up funding to meet the need. (Scroll below to look ahead with us to 2026.)
Your partnership is critical! Will you join us?
We invite you to give your best year-end gift here.
“To fully express the gratitude of people and the impact Phil Cooke has had on the Russian-speaking world would require writing an entire book of its own.” —Matts-Ola, Russia
“There are very few people with that caliber who come and pour their heart out just to help [creatives and media teams] out there in the field, maybe in India, maybe in Africa, maybe in some other parts of the world. Phil and Kathleen Cooke are impacting so many people and I am one of them.”—Ashvin, Managing Director, Good News, India
2025 Impact Recap
Phil and Kathleen met with influential pastors and marketplace leaders in Greece, 2025.
51 Nations Gathered in Greece
Phil and Kathleen met with pastors and high-profile marketplace leaders in Greece this past March. Phil spoke from his book, “Church on Trial—How to Protect Your Congregation, Reputation, and Mission During a Crisis,” and offered his Crisis Management Masterclass to the pastors for free as an outreach of The Influence Lab. Read more.
Masterclasses Move to New Upgraded Platform
Phil Cooke’s Masterclasses, offered through The Influence Lab, moved to a new platform to become more accessible worldwide. Enroll in a class today!
Church on Trial – Crisis Management Masterclass
Ideas on a Deadline Masterclass
Long-term Relationships Fuel Ministry Growth in Russia
Phil’s books are used for training Russian pastors.
This year, we celebrated the 30th anniversary of our contact’s church in Russia and Phil was invited to send a congratulatory video to Moscow for the landmark event. Watch Phil’s video here.
One of our Russian contacts writes: “Phil Cooke’s books in Russian have become essential reading in many churches and non-profit organizations. I regularly see Maximize Your Influence on pastors’ desks when I visit influential churches. Ideas on Deadline became the most-read book of last year, providing vital support to entrepreneurs and creative individuals during a challenging period.” —Matts-Ola, Russia
Kathleen Cooke Awarded Woman of Distinction from She Leads Tennessee
Kathleen Cooke received the She Leads America Tennessee “Woman of Distinction” award for her transformative leadership in media, entertainment, and faith-based initiatives for women. She was also invited to the 2025 She Leads America and UK Summit held at Windsor Castle. Read more here.
Women gather in at the Hollywood Influence Women event.
Kathleen attends White House Faith Office Meetings in DC
Kathleen was invited to attend meetings of the White House Faith Office in Washington, D.C., advocating for women creatives in their artistic endeavors. Read more.
Influence Women Expands and Encourages Unshakeable Faith in Filmmakers
2025 has been a challenging year for the film and television industry in Hollywood, and many filmmakers have relocated to production hubs such as Atlanta and Nashville. With Influence Women chapter groups in these cities and more added this year in Houston, Baton Rouge, Dallas and Phoenix, we’re able to inspire female creatives to create God-honoring works. Read more.
“Influence Women is shifting and shaping the culture for women in media everywhere at any age. With a focus on empowering women, they’re building a vibrant community where support, encouragement, and networking thrive.” —Jaclyn Quisenberry, Producer/Entertainment Marketing, Biola University Alumni
On the Calendar—Upcoming Opportunities in 2026:
January 2026 – United Kingdom
Phil and Kathleen will teach a series of masterclasses for Christian university students in Europe.
March 2026—Houston, TX
An invitation-only global gathering of 300 pastors and high-profile marketplace leaders. Phil and Kathleen will have opportunity to interact, encourage, and teach some of the most innovative and pioneering pastors in the world.
May 2026—Franklin, TN
Phil speaks to the Evangelical Publishers Association, the national organization for Christian writers, editors and publishers.
June 2026—Jordan
Phil is invited to Jordan with Ron Harris of MediaAlliance International to conduct training sessions for ministry leaders through the Middle East. Details to follow!
September 2026—Australia
Pending details… more to come!
Thank you for your partnership in prayer and financial support.* We can say “yes” to these opportunities because of you.
Here’s to a wondrous new year!
“Far from fading with time, Phil and Kathleen’s relevance and influence continue to grow… Their leadership remains outstanding, and their voices are deeply valued within the Church and the Christian media landscape.” —Nathan Brown, CEO – Christian Media & Arts Australia
*New IRA Limits opens opportunities for charitable giving. Read more here.